Repairing your bike

[oldthrower50]

Does everybody repair their own bikes?  I know that motorcycle culture is steeped in a history of people who built, modified and repqaired their unreliable, finicky rides...but in this day and age, do you all still turn your own wrench?

(I glanced at my local Honda dealer's website to see that he was running a "special" for $80 oil changes  ??? ???, this assures me that dealer repairs may require a 2nd mortgage)

FYI, I am purposely mildly mechanically illiterate because of my dad.  He owned/operated a service station and didn't teach me much, as he wanted "something better for me"  which is great, but I get frustrated everytime somehing with an internal combustion engine has issues

[BF]

Does everybody repair their own bikes?  I know that motorcycle culture is steeped in a history of people who built, modified and repqaired their unreliable, finicky rides...but in this day and age, do you all still turn your own wrench?

(I glanced at my local Honda dealer's website to see that he was running a "special" for $80 oil changes  ??? ???, this assures me that dealer repairs may require a 2nd mortgage)

FYI, I am purposely mildly mechanically illiterate because of my dad.  He owned/operated a service station and didn't teach me much, as he wanted "something better for me"  which is great, but I get frustrated everytime somehing with an internal combustion engine has issues

Alot of folks have learned that after they take their Valk to a dealer and the dealer screws it up and over charges for the experience, they then figure out how to do it themselves.  

I'd quess that the vast majority of folks on this board do their own repairs and maintenance.

[jer0177]

I do all my own wrenching, as long as I have the equipment.

One of these days I'll acquire a shop press and brake lathe to prevent the debacle that happened when I was doing some work on my girlfriend's sister's car.  I won't get into it again here, but don't take anything to Pep Boys for work.  Period.

[Joe Hummer]

I wrench on my own bike...and my wife's...and two or three friends.    Thing is though, I know my limitations.  I know what tools I have and what I can do with them.  If something comes up that I am not prepared to tackle, I visit the dealer...and my dealer knows this and usually treats me pretty good.  Most things on the Valks are pretty easy to get to with a little time and patience.  The forum has helped tons in locating issues and coming up with fixes that aren't in the Service Manual and even come up with better ways of doing things than what is in the manual...like removing the rear wheel without removing the exhausts.  (You have a Service Manual...right?  If not...see this page for a downloadable version:  http://www.valkyrienorway.com/download.html.)  But....the biggest thing here is...Search the forum for answers to your problems and if you don't find...don't hesitate to ask the membership.  You will more than likely get an answer within a few minutes of posting. 

Joe

[RainMaker]

Where are you located?  It would be good to find some locals and go to a wrench party to learn about how to do the basic maintenance on a Valkyrie.  I'm convinced that the dealers know less and less about these machines as time goes by.

At our wrench parties, I've seen things repaired that I doubt even a dealer in the DFW area would try.

RainMaker

[BF]

My bike used to look like this.....



It now looks like this.....




Except for paint and a little welding I had done, I did all the work myself.  

I do all my own routine maintenance stuff like brakes and the like, but there are several maintenance items I haven't tackled yet such as the rear drive maintenance, alternator, starter replace.....but I will.    

The VRCC is the best source of help you'll find for your Valk.  The Honda manual, a Chiltons manual and the resourses on this board are about all you'll ever need.  

Those two manuals and the guys here on the tech board are what got me through my Valk's rehab earlier this year.  

[santa]

I change oil, brakes, and fluids. Tires I go to the shops, rearend shops.
Santa

[Grumpy]

Absolutely do all my maint, took it do a dealer once to get fork seals replaced, had to replace them my self 6 months later as they beat the crap out of them installing them. Do every thing except for painting, I do farm that out.

[Alien]

I have always done my own work.  I also build/have built full custom motorcycles and hot rods, and I have aquired the experience and equipment that goes along with that.  In doing my own wrenching, I never have to wonder if a step was skipped or if a fastener was properly torqued.  No one will ever take better care of your bike than you.  That being said I would never encourage anyone to attempt a repair on their motorcycle that they are not comfortable and confident with.  Everyone has different levels of mechanical ability and some have none at all.  There's no shame in that.

Ride safe,

Scott

[Fritz The Cat]

If I ever find a dealer I can trust, I'll take all my bike problems to them. But Hell will freeze over before that happens.

[f6john]

   I would have to be needing to crack the case open before i took it to a shop. Short of that, I'll handle it. On second thought, if the case needed to be opened it would be cheaper to find another engine.

[Jabba]

Just helped a buddy pull the year end out of his new-to-him valk yesterday.

We found the driveshaft/pinion cup caked full of old wheel bearing grease... NOT how it's supposed to be.

Luckily there was not yet any damage.   

Get her cleaned up, anti-seized, and the splines all Moly'd up.  New car tire on board and buttoned back together.

Now... I only have 3 more to do 

Jabba

[old2soon]

Did a little wrenching over the years but i am NOT a mechanic. Farm out the tire mount/dismount. But have tackled succesfully-rear end maint x 3 oil and fluid changes new brake pads and the exciting/fun/educational/not to be missed/will learn new curse words at an advanced age/i give you TA DA-the altenator R and R. But truth be known i was only half as smart as i thought i was when i started the alt job. Sides-i CAN NOT afford the $65.00 hr labor my Honda dlr charges. And this board we are part of is VERY helpful. RIDE SAFE.

[fudgie]

If its not to complicated I do it myself. I didnt do the fork seals or mount my own tires. Everything else I do.

[Misfit]

The Valkyrie is a very simple machine. Anyone with a little patience and just basic mechanical skills and tools should not have any trouble doing their own work. I have worked on more Valkyries than I can remember. Doing anything from minor maintenance to major repairs. I have taught several folks to do their own. I have never turned anyone down or charged a dime for anything. In fact it usually ends up costing me, which has never been a problem. It makes me feel good to know that I can help them out and save them some $$. Knowing that it is done right is a + for all involved. Besides hanging out in the garage turning wrenches with friends is relaxing and almost as fun as riding with them. If you have the skills to do this stuff offer up your time and tools to help out around your area. You will be glad you did. If you could use a little help or a few tools don't be afraid to ask around. I personally know a bunch of awesome vrcc members all over the country that will drop everything to help out a friend(or friend to be) in a heart beat. Pay it forward. It never fails. 

[Buda]

Where are you?  I'm sure someone would be willing to help ya out.  The Valkyrie is a very easy oil change....no need to pay to have it done.

[YoungPUP]

Step one:  Lefty loosey, righty tighty.  I'll take anything apart once.

[olddog1946]

My neighbor and I both ride valks. Last year he had a local shop do all the routine maintenance on his bike, while I did my own stuff..He spent $2500 bucks for one service, I about fell over when we went to pick it up..9K later, I replaced his final drive and drive shaft. Took me a week of pestering to get him to take it apart, told him cause he paid big bucks to get things done, don't mean he got things done. Which indeed was the case..
We pay $50 a pop for a tire change if you bring in the wheel..so I've also added a no-mar tire changer to my set of tools. Love that thing.
Valk's are exceedingly uncomplicated beasts, and relatively easy to work on..don't buy a BMW K1200LTe that needs a clutch,...now that's a pain in the tush..

[Lil D]

post where you are from. You will either find someone locally who can guide you or they may be able to share their experence with local shops.

(I'm not mechanical in the least....but, I can hold a flashlight, get a tool, and write a check)   

[KSDragonRider]

If you are anywhere close to KS, look us up on the KS board. There are several of us that wrench on our own bikes, and other peoples as well. I have a friends valk on my platform lift right now.

I work on my bike, and have about 5 friends that trust me to wrench on their bikes. Get a book, get some friends and the rest comes very easy. 

I have found that having a good lift, some good tools and a good manual makes it so you can do about anything on one of these bikes. 

best part is i dont have a friend that has me work on their bike right now that does not ride a honda.  I think the hondas are easier to work on than any other bike i have ever had.

[PAVALKER]

I have the service manuals, Honda and another brand.  But... my most used document is the Valkyrie Maintenance Guide  provided by Rattlebars and/or Carl Kulo... http://www.rattlebars.com/valkfaq/valkmaintenanceguide.html    If you need to do more than that, the Service Manual helps.

I have all the pages printed out, stapled and kept inside my Service Manual Binder.  It's a quick ready reference....